I was nominated by Aissa (Tea In January) and Miriam (A Whole Lot of Serendipity) for Liebster Awards. First off, thanks ladies! I haven't done awards in a while. Come to think of it, I've only received a Liebster once before. I always enjoy these types of awards/tags because they let us discover new blogs, and lets us get to know the people behind our most loved reads.
Aissa's Questions
- Favorite season (winter, summer, autumn/fall, spring)?
I love and appreciate summer. I think everyone is well-deserving of a glorious summer after a cold winter and a slushy spring! Haha
- Favorite blog to follow that is different from your genre?
I really love reading The Private Life of A Girl. Sophie has a lot of great tips on how to stay creative and let your creativity just flourish into more than just a passion or hobby. I also love her approach and how unscripted her writing sounds. I can't quite articulate just what I mean by "unscripted," but I feel like she really understands her readers.
- What is your ideal vacation?
I don't know if I would call it a vacation or just a homecoming. I love spending time in the Philippines with family. I'd love to volunteer or help out at a shelter or orphanage while I'm there. I'd like to be active in that way eventually. It would feel almost full circle for me. I just think time away from "my real life" is best spent when I'm totally ripped away from what I'm used to. It's a way for me to get a reality check and stay productive in that sense.
- Do you like to cook?
I love to cook!
- What is your signature dish?
I've lived away from home since I was eighteen, but I still don't think cooked long enough to have a signature dish. I do often make slow cooked teriyaki and spicy adobo. One day, I'd like to make "Level Mom" Filipino/Chinese food.
- If you can go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Apart from Philippines, I'd love to go to Incheon, South Korea. My aunt, and seriously one of the biggest influences in my life, has lived there for more than a decade now. I have not seen her since I was in first-year high school. She took care of me when I was young while my mom worked at an office and my dad lived and worked abroad. She also recently #BEATCANCER and I'd love to be at her side. She seems the most joyful I've ever seen her!
- Who would you like to have a meal with (dead or alive)?
My grandfathers. They are both influential in my parents' lives. My paternal grandfather passed away when my dad was barely out of high school; I only know him through stories. My maternal grandfather passed away when I was just three-years-old; I only remember his face. Both were known for their sense of humor. I'd love to laugh with them.
- Who or what inspires you?
My son, my parents, my siblings, my best friends, family. I find a little bit of myself in all of them and I've never known love and faith to be so unconditional. That kind of support keeps me going.
- What do you love about blogging?
To be honest, part of why I started blogging more than a decade ago was because I loved the idea of not needing to carry a journal around. Eventually, I learned that nothing beats a journal. However, blogging is like a convenient archive and time capsule that stays where it is for as long as you want it. I also love what blogging has evolved into over the years. It's really become a network all on its own. I've met some wonderful people through blogging who share the same passion for writing and connecting through it.
- What is your go-to outfit?
Boyfriend jeans, sneakers, and a white t-shirt. I am the plainest of all Janes.
- How do you unwind from a stressful/busy day?
I watch Netflix, possibly eat chicken nuggets, and answer all of my son's questions before I sleep.
Miriam's Questions
- How did you pick your blog’s name?
I have gone through so many phases in blogging that it eventually became something I was bound to do for awhile. Shayne Blogs is meant to be prophetic, in the sense that it describes what I do and love to do. It's meant to be read like a sentence and answer to the question, "What does Shayne do?"
- Beauty product you can’t live without.
My "Benefit stash." I am a serious fangirl of Benefit Cosmetics and have used a slew of their products over the years. These days, I can't go a day without using POREfessional and Big Easy Liquid to Powder foundation. Apart from Benefit, I also love No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream.
- How do you define beautiful?
Anyone who understands that beauty isn't confined to just one superficial level is beautiful to me. It is in the way you act and your regard to the people around you.
- Favorite place you’ve ever traveled to.
This is a very hard question, especially because I have an impending trip to China that might trump them all! It may not be totally out of this world, but I have loved every visit I've made to Southern California.
- If you could travel anywhere in the world and money was no object, where would you go? Why?
Aside from my previous answer about South Korea, I would love to go backpacking through Europe with my family. I just think it would be fun to go since my family is full of people stung by the travel bug. I also think it would be a unique experience and story to share.
- What's something that always makes you laugh?
My son's questions and sometimes adamant proclamations of truth.
- What did you want to be when you were a child?
I wanted to be Lea Salonga, but you know. That was already taken. Seriously though, I have always wanted to do something creative or something that uses my voice. For as long as I can remember, my parents and teachers have encouraged me to forge that path through writing. I feel lucky that goal is something I've somewhat accomplished as I got my feet wet in the workforce.
- What are your favourite books?
Like The Red Panda by Andrea Seigel and The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
- What is your favorite quote and by whom?
I have a whole library of quotes I pull from every now and then. The one that sticks out to me right now at this point of my life is one from the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
"Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you."
- What is one thing you love about where you live?
I see it changing and growing at such a fast pace. I've lived here upwards to twenty years now and I'm still discovering more about it everyday.
- What keeps you motivated?
I find motivation in my goals and what those accomplishments can mean for my family.
What blogs are you reading?
Part of the deal with the Liebster Awards is that nominees also nominate another batch of 11 blogs. Honestly, I haven't had time to keep up with the blogosphere and the blogs I have in mind have already surpassed the 200 follower criteria. So, let me ask you. What are your favorite new blogs? I'd love to know!
xo,
Shayne
